Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau is taking a completely opposite approach to helping the Algoma Passenger Train get back on track than his predecessor, says a co-chair of the working group leading that charge.

“Another season has gone by without the passenger train,” said Linda Savory-Gordon, of the Algoma Passenger Train Working Group. “During the election campaign at this time last year, our current MP was at our meetings and thought it was terrible that the train wasn't running and led us to believe that he would deal with it differently.”

While community support and support among organizations and municipalities along the train line is continuously growing, Savory-Gordon said there hasn't been any movement with Transport Canada that will convince them to provide three years of decreasing funding to allow the Missanabie Cree First Nation operate the train and transform it into a sustainable economic venture.

“We have seen the support from INAC and we have been in contact with CN Rail, who has also been supportive and we're discussing track fees but the subsidy issue remains outstanding,” Savory-Gordon said.

The Algoma Passenger Train Working Group will be hosting a rally on Nov. 1 at city hall's Russ Ramsay Room to send a strong message to the federal government that the passenger train needs to get back on track now.

The working group has received another letter of support – from the Ontario Fur Managers Federation – whose members use the lines to access their traps.

Many trappers can only reach their lines through the Algoma passenger train and are upset about their inability to manage their trapping territories, Savory-Gordon said.

Managing fur-bearing populations is also important for a healthy ecosystem as well as for the economic well-being of the fur managers and their related businesses, she said.

The letter of support adds to more than a dozen resolutions passed by area municipalities, First Nations, organizations and associations, she said.

Robin Horwath, general manager of the Ontario Fur Managers Federation said in a letter of support that the resolution was unanimously passed by its 16 directors, who represent 6,000 members across Canada.

Savory-Gordon said the request to the Federal Transport minister hasn't changed since the outset.

The working group is continuing to gather more data to show that the area the trains travels is very remote.

Savory-Gordon said photos of trails, industrial roads and the terrible driving conditions along with private property signs where people can't legally access, have been taken and forwarded to Transport Canada. Population statistics for each of the small communities are also being tabulated.

“We're gathering the data they didn't despite their decision that the train doesn't serve remote communities,” she said.

A business case study showed the passenger train service injects more than $38 million annually into the region's economy through property investment and tourism.

Experts have also said the train is significant for the regional economy and is important to maintain the service and the track condition, especially if the Port of Algoma project takes shape and moves forward.